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Skidmore College
First-Year Experience

About FYE

At Skidmore, we believe in the transformative power of liberal education — more precisely, in the power of an educational experience that combines curricular and co-curricular opportunities to liberate the mind and nurture the soul. The First-Year Experience Program is an academic experience designed to get you started on that journey. 

Scribner Seminars

Scribner Seminars

FYE's hallmark is the Scribner Seminar — a small, intense course in which you work closely with a Skidmore faculty member who will also serve as your advisor. First-year students select a Scribner Seminar from approximately 45 different offerings, exploring fascinating interdisciplinary topics such as American Buddhism or Sport, Self, & Society.  All seminars are designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity, challenge preconceived notions, and provide a solid foundation for continued study at Skidmore.   

Scribner Seminars

Summer Reading

Summer Reading

A central feature of Skidmore’s First-Year Experience is the Summer Reading program, the purpose of which is twofold. First, we want to impress upon you that intellectual engagement need not be confined to classrooms, studios, labs, or academic calendars; on the contrary, higher learning is ongoing and everywhere. Second, we want to provide you with a common intellectual journey that generates questions, prompts conversations, and binds the first-year class together. 

Learn more

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation

Your first moments and days at Skidmore are special, and we're proud to be responsible for ensuring it's a seamless and meaningful experience. Our office oversees New Student Orientation, the required program all incoming students participate in, which includes move-in, Convocation, and a series of introductions to life here, including residential life, student affairs, academics, and more. 

Fall 2024 New Student Orientation

Skidmore also offers Pre-Orientation led by the office of Office of Campus Life and Engagement and distinct programs for London FYE, International, and Opportunity Program students. 

All Orientation programs 

Campus Partners 

The FYE team works closely with a number of campus offices that will also play an important part in your introduction to Skidmore. 

 

Newsletter
FYI from FYE

Our summer newsletter for new students and families is your resource for knowing what to do and when – from health forms and academic assessments to advising and more. Incoming students will receive the newsletter automatically, but families are welcome to sign-up as well.